[Published here September 27, 2017]
HAWI AL-HAWA (SYRIA) (AFP) – For years, Gharam Habbal and her elderly father had desperately dreamt of escaping the Islamic State group’s hellish grip on Raqa. But when she finally fled, he wasn’t with her.
Author: Maya Gebeily
Returning home, Syrians find Raqa battered beyond recognition | AFP
[Published here September 26, 2017]
Raqa (Syria) (AFP) – Bashar Hammoud thought he knew his native Raqa like the back of his hand, but a months-long offensive against the Islamic State group has scarred the Syrian city so badly he can barely recognise it.
US-backed fighters elated over front-row seats to Raqa fall | AFP
[Published here on September 25, 2017]
Raqa (Syria) (AFP) – For three years, Syrian-Kurdish fighter Sevger Himo has been itching to witness the Islamic State group’s demise. Now, in the heart of Raqa city, he has a front-row seat.
After filming IS horrors, Raqa activists become war reporters | AFP
[Published here on September 12, 2017]
They honed their media skills secretly filming Islamic State group beheadings in Raqa. Now, these Syrian activists have become impromptu war reporters, covering the US-backed assault on their city from the ground.
US-led strike in Syria blocks IS fighters evacuated from Lebanon | AFP
[Published here on August 30, 2017]
Beirut (AFP) – The US-led coalition carried out two sets of air strikes on Wednesday to block Islamic State group fighters evacuated from Lebanon from reaching eastern Syria, its spokesman told AFP.
Lebanon army in uncharted territory near Syria border | AFP
[Published here August 29, 2017]
Jurud Ras Baalbek (Lebanon) (AFP) – The dust-covered soldiers, armoured vehicles and tents may not look very official, but they mark the first time Lebanese troops have deployed in this sliver of land along the Syrian border.
Syria rebels lose heavyweight with collapse of Islamist faction | AFP
[Published here August 17, 2017]
Beirut (AFP) – Syria’s opposition has lost one of its most powerful factions with the collapse of Islamist heavyweight Ahrar al-Sham, which once walked a fine line between jihadists and more mainstream rebels.
In Yemen, Red Cross treats diseases ‘nobody should die of’| AFP
[Published here August 9, 2017]
Beirut (AFP) – Yemen’s spiraling health crisis has forced organisations treating war-wounded to shift their focus to diseases “nobody should die of”, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Wednesday.
From fighting regime to anti-IS, Syria rebel traces US policy shifts | AFP
[Published here on August 5, 2017]
Beirut (AFP) – From special forces officer to brigade-hopping rebel, Abu Jaafar has seen Syria’s uprising from all angles. But after years of setbacks, culminating in cuts to US support, he feels disillusioned.
US-backed Syria force ousts IS from half of Raqa | AFP
[Published here on July 27, 2017]
Beirut (AFP) – A US-backed alliance has ousted Islamic State group jihadists from half of their Syrian bastion Raqa, a monitor said Wednesday, as the escalating fighting drove up the civilian death toll.
MAYA GEBEILY 